Oregon crime lab hits DNA matchup milestone

PORTLAND -- When the characters from the "CSI" shows ask for a DNA test, the results come back before the next commercial. Real cops and scientists in Oregon wish it were so.

Because of budget cuts, officers usually have to wait at least four months to get something tested at the Oregon State Police crime lab. When the results do come back, they often clear suspects.

That was the case in January, when the crime lab reached a milestone: its 1,000th DNA "hit" matching an unsolved crime to a profile in the state database of genetic samples. Only eight other states have reached that milestone.

The Legislature sliced the staff statewide from 135 to 50 people in 2003. Today, there are 109, but the workload has increased as police rely more on DNA. Investigators have also opened dusty evidence lockers to submit evidence from unsolved cases that have haunted them for years.

Given Oregon's size, forensics experts say they are amazed how fast the state has joined the 1,000-hit club. The other states, including Florida, New York and California, are much larger.

Washington is at 326 hits. "In the forensics world, 1,000 hits is a big deal," said Lynne McIntyre, director of the Washington State Patrol crime lab in Seattle. "It's the point where we realize the database we invested time and money in is really up and working and solving crimes."